Minnesota State Symbols

Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

These Minnesota state symbols are designated by law. The list includes statutory citations, some legislative history, and citations to sources of additional information available in the Legislative Reference Library. The Library also has a list of unofficial or proposed symbols, both serious and facetious. These online lists are supplemented with notebooks of additional news clippings and other materials in the Library.

Bird

Before the Legislature decided on the loon as Minnesota's state bird, several other birds were suggested, including the Eastern goldfinch (1947), the mourning dove (1951), the pileated woodpecker (1951 and 1953), the scarlet tanager (1951) and the wood duck (1951).

Butterfly

Promoted by a fourth-grade class at Anderson Elementary School in Mahtomedi, Rep. Harry Mares and Sen. Chuck Wiger sponsored the bill to name the monarch butterfly as a state symbol. Rep. Mares noted, "A lot of people have an early introduction to the magical world of nature through the monarch, and as we get older it becomes a thread that takes us through science to beauty and aesthetics." Governor Jesse Ventura signed the bill into law.

Drink

Milk was designated the official state drink in 1984 (see Minnesota Statutes 1.1495).

Rep. Rick Krueger, chief sponsor of the bill, said that milk was chosen for several reasons; it has promotional value for the American Dairy Association, it would help tourism efforts, show the dairy industry the state cares about it, and bring about a general awareness of dairy products in the state. It was signed into law by Governor Rudy Perpich.

Fish

The Walleye (stizostedion v. vitreum) was designated the state fish in 1965, after having been proposed once before in 1953 (see Minnesota Statutes 1.146).

Flag

The first state flag was designated in 1893 (see Laws of Minnesota 1893, Chapter 16). The design for the current Minnesota state flag was adopted in 1957 (see Laws of Minnesota 1957, Chapter 155, Sections 1-4), based on a proposed design by a legislative interim commission created in 1955 (see Laws of Minnesota 1955, Chapter 632). Minnesota Statutes 1.141 describes the flag and conditions under which it should be flown. In 1989, a new flag design was proposed by the Minnesota Flag Coalition, but no bill was introduced. In 2000, Sen. Ed Oliver introduced a bill (SF3587) proposing a legislative task force on the design of the state flag, but the bill did not pass.

Flower

The pink and white Lady Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) was designated the state flower in 1967 (see Minnesota Statutes 1.142).

The Lady Slipper was considered the state flower long before it was officially passed into law. In 1893 a petition from the Women's Auxiliary to the World's Fair was presented to the Senate, asking that the Wild Lady Slipper (Cyprideum calceolous) be designated the state flower. The Senate adopted the resolution on February 4, 1893 (Senate Journal entry), but there is no evidence that the House adopted it. Also, the variety that was designated was not from Minnesota. In 1902 women of the St. Anthony Study Circle brought this to the attention of the Legislature. The Senate passed a new resolution on February 18, 1902, naming the pink and white lady slipper (Cypripedium reginae), also known as the showy lady slipper, as Minnesota's state flower (Senate Journal entries). The House concurred (House Journal entry).

"State Flower Called Fake: St. Anthony Study Circle Asserts Official Posie Does Not Grow Wild Here, Evidence is Submitted, Women Ask Senate to Make an Amendatory Resolution Changing to Another Species," Minneapolis Tribune, February 2, 1902: p. 6.

Fruit

Honeycrisp apple was designated the state fruit in 2006 (see Minnesota Statutes 1.1475).

The successful Honeycrisp apple variety, developed at the University of Minnesota, was suggested by a class of students from Andersen Elementary School in Bayport. Rep. Mike Charron and Sen. Brian LeClair sponsored the legislation and Minnesota became the 21st state to adopt a state fruit. It was signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Gemstone

Though some legislators wanted to call the gemstone "The Minnesota Agate," Sen. Mel Hanson, sponsor of the bill, said that rock-hunting clubs in the state preferred keeping the name Lake Superior agate. According to one news account, members of the Senate General Legislation Committee debated for an hour over whether it should be the state rock, stone, or gemstone. Rep. Vernon Hoppe sponsored the companion bill; it was signed into law by Governor Harold LeVander.

Wild rice: Information from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Motto

L'etoile du Nord (translated "Star of the North") was adopted formally as the official state motto in 1861. Henry Sibley selected this motto to be used on the state seal and the Legislature approved both the seal and the motto at the same time (see Laws of Minnesota 1861, Chapter 43).

Muffin

Representative Mary Murphy introduced the bill at the request of a third-grade class from South Terrace Elementary School in Carlton, Minnesota. The Senate companion was authored by Sen. Florian Chmielewski. The third graders were inspired by a Massachusetts class who lobbied for the corn muffin to become an official symbol in that state. The Minnesota school children chose the blueberry muffin because wheat is an important crop in southern Minnesota and wild blueberries are common in northern Minnesota. Governor Rudy Perpich signed the law.

Mushroom

The morel mushroom (morchella esculenta), commonly known as the morel, sponge mushroom, or honeycomb morel, was designated in 1984 (see Minnesota Statutes 1.149).

Seal

The official Minnesota state seal was adopted in 1861. Minnesota Statute 1.135 describes the seal, its historical symbolism and its uses. Until 1974, the Minnesota Constitution required that the seal "shall be attached to all official acts of the governor requiring authentication."

In 1849, Henry Sibley proposed that a picture created by Seth Eastman be adopted as the official Minnesota territorial seal. This proposal was adopted by the legislature. When Minnesota became a state in 1858, officials continued to use the territorial seal until 1861 when Minnesota Laws 1861, Chapter 43 was passed, creating an official state seal. The 1861 seal showed a settler plowing a field beside the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls. In the background, an Indian on horseback rides toward the setting sun. A banner shows the state motto "L'Etoile du Nord". In 1983 the seal was redesigned. (Laws of Minnesota 1983, Chapter 119) Norway pines (the state tree) were added behind St. Anthony Falls and the direction of the Indian was changed. He now rides toward the farmer rather than away from him.

Song

Written in 1904, "Hail Minnesota" was a song in a University of Minnesota play, "The Apple of Discord." "Hail Minnesota" was used as the alma mater for the University of Minnesota and later adapted for use as the official Minnesota state song. One change was made to the words. The second line of the song, "Hail to thee, our college dear" became "Hail to thee, our state so dear." The chief authors were Rep. Ben D. Hughes and Sen. Val Imm.

"Hail, Minnesota"

Minnesota, hail to thee!
Hail to thee our state so dear!
Thy light shall ever be
A beacon bright and clear.
Thy sons and daughters true
Will proclaim thee near and far.
They shall guard thy fame
And adore thy name;
Thou shalt be their Northern Star.

Like the stream that bends to sea,
Like the pine that seeks the blue,
Minnesota, still for thee,
Thy sons are strong and true.
From thy woods and waters fair,
From thy prairies waving far,
At thy call they throng,
With their shout and song,
Hailing thee their Northern Star.

Sport

Ice hockey was named the official state sport of Minnesota in 2009 (see Minnesota Statutes 1.1499).

Sen. Gen Olson first introduced a bill to designate hockey as the state sport in 2007 (SF2313). It was suggested by sixth-grade students at Minnetonka Middle School East, who spent months collecting more than 600 signatures in support of the proposal. Co-author Sen. David Tomassoni had ties to the sport; he played professional hockey in Italy for several seasons, and played on the Italian team in the 1984 Olympics. The House chief author was Rep. John Berns, along with fifteen co-authors. (HF3771) It was signed into law by another hockey fan, Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Tree

Through the efforts of the Friday Study Club in Minneapolis, and backed by the Minnesota Federation of Women's Clubs, the Norway pine designation was passed in 1953. It was sponsored by Sen. Gordon H. Butler and Rep. George A. French, and signed into law by Governor C. Elmer Anderson on February 18, 1953. The language of Chapter 20 noted the sturdiness and majesty of the tree, and how it helped lay the foundation for the wealth of Minnesota.

Learn more:

Norway pine: Information from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.